Display device



June 14, 1932. w L WELLS 1,863,516

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 V?! Z022 1. MAG:

L9 7/ A INVENTOR 11 M m 9.5%

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ATTORNEY June 14, 1932. w. I. WELLS I DI SPLAY DEVICE Filed July 14, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl 4 15 16 z! A Z0 Z2 i;

Patented June 14, 1932 WILTON I. WELLS, OF NEW ALBANY, INDIANA DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed July 14, 1930. Serial No. 467,928.

ner and means of maintaining the partition This invention relates to display devices of members in position for use.

a type designed for exhibiting merchandise in salable form.

One of the principal objects of the invention comprises a device of this character having adjustably positioned trays.

An additional object of the invention consists of partitions designed for interposition between the trays in the formulating of compartments of difierent sizes.

More specifically stated the device may be constructed and arranged in such manner that a compartment may be widened and narrowed after the device has been set up for use.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further consists of the following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof with the partition walls removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device per se.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the device with the partition members removed.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sill or support for the adj ustably mounted trays.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the means for facilitating widening and narrowing of a compartment after the device has been set up.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the invention disclosing the man- Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken through a modified form of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference characters 10 and 11 indicate generally the rails or supports upon which the several trays 12, 13 and 14 are shiftably mounted.

From --the illustrations of my invention in Figures 3 and 6 of the drawings, the trays or compartment bottoms are cooperatively associated with the supporting rails 10 and 11 through the employment of semi-dove tail connections therebetween. Stationary trays or compartment bottoms l5 and 16 are arranged adjacent the ends of the supporting rails and held against displacement thereon through the instrumentality of fastenings of the character designated as at 17. The trays 12, 13 and 14 are designed to be spaced for appreciable distances apart adjacent the side edges thereof to facilitate accommodation of appropriate portions of partitionmembers 18 preferably constructed of glass or other transparent material. Retaining plates 19, carried upon the outer side of the rail 10 and upon the ends of each of the several rails, are designed to maintain a front panel 20 and end panels 21 in the manner suggested in Figure l of the drawings whereby the several compartments contemplated will be defined in the manner shown.

It may be also desired to arrange one or more of the compartments especially adjacent the ends of the display device in such manner so as to permit the widening and narrowing thereof without disturbing the relative arrangement of the filled compartments and in carrying out this phase of the invention, I provide plate members 22, best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings and which are inwardly projected from either of the stationary end trays 15 or 16. It is obviously or bins and in carrying apparent that the adjacent slidably mounted trays or compartment bottoms have permanently secured thereto the immediate overlapping portions of the plates 22. Side flanges 23, downwardly and inwardly projecting from the side edges of the plates 22, are designed for accommodation within undercut grooves 24 in the ends of either of the stationary trays for sliding movement therein. In instances were a commodity or article is sold rapidly and in bulk form from visible compartments, it may be necessary to widen and narrow such compartment in accordance with the quantity to be main- .WILTON I. WELLS.

tained and the effectiveness of the display. j I

Where the quantity of the commodity or article suddenly diminishes, the particular compartm'ent could be narrowed .to such an extent that the commodities would be piled up, in the ordinary manner, and preserve the general good appearance of the display device.

These adjustments not only facilitate narrowing and widening of the end compartments but also permit and regulate adjustment to the other or intermediate compartments in the maintenance of an eflective display and adequate storage for salable commodities.

As suggested in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the trays or platform bottoms, both slidable and stationary, fall short of extending the entire width and length of the supporting structure whereby suitable purchase will be provided for the partition members, front and end panels respectively.

It is also my purpose to provide for increasing the depth of the different compartments out this particular phase of my invention, 1 have modified the general construction of the invention in such manner that two of the units may be coupled together, in the manner suggested in Figure 10 of the drawings.

The rails 10 and 11 of the supporting structure are to be projected and recessed respectively in a manner whereby any number of trays may be interfitted, subsequent to the removal of the retaining plates 19 from the sides of the innermost rails 18.

It is to be noted that the foregoing may be accomplished without departing from the general construction of the invention, merely by exaggerating the relative dispositions of the rails and trays.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is A display device comprising spaced parallel supporting rails disposed horizontally and having at their upper surfaces laterally dis- 

